The Purolator Tackle Hunger Food Drive, in partnership with the BC Lions for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society, is taking place this coming Saturday, August 13th.
This is the 9th annual Tackle Hunger campaign and fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable food item donations or cash in support of this cause. Volunteers will be at every gate to collect donations as the BC Lions take on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on the field.
The most-needed items currently listed on the Food Bank’s website are canned meat and fish, whole wheat pasta and rice, canned fruit and vegetables, cereal, baby formula and baby food.
Coming off a big win against Saskatchewan on Friday, Empire Field will be the place to be on Saturday. Arrive early for the BC Lions Street Party at 5:30pm. There will be live music, family activities (including free face painting), poster making, games and more. Football fans who bring a donation this weekend will have the opportunity to receive a souvenir photo with the Grey Cup and enter a draw to win two tickets to the 2011 Grey Cup in Vancouver.
If you would like to attend Saturday’s game, I have a pair of tickets to give away as a part of a prize pack that includes 2 tickets to Saturday’s game, a Purolator Tackle Hunger t-shirt, golf shirt, and jacket, BC Lions gear (training camp shirt, pom-poms, towel, noisemakers, hat, yearbook, Tim Horton’s card, sticker, lanyard, and more), and the book “Legends of Autumn – The Glory Years of Canadian Football” by Denny Boyd and Brian Scrivener.
Here’s how you can enter to win:
Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 10:00am, Thursday, August 11, 2011. Purolator also partners with the CFL throughout the entire season by donating a quarterback’s weight in food (to the team’s local food bank) whenever one gets sacked during the regular season.
Update The winner is Bonnie!
This feature was written exclusively for Miss604 by actor, writer, and producer, Michelle Kim.
Last Wednesday, I attended the Artist’s Circle at the Harmony Arts Festival, hosted by the West Vancouver Museum. The event was an intimate retrospective of famed-Canadian painter, Gordon Smith, now 92 years old, who was joined by two other distinguished Canadian artists, from two other generations—Ian Wallace and Douglas Coupland.
The evening was structured around Smith’s personal photographs (dating back from the end of World War II up to present day) being projected on the screen to the right of the speakers. My favourite photograph was that of Arthur Erickson standing outside in a bathrobe with Margaret Trudeau and a young Justin, looking off through West Vancouver foliage over to the sea. Each photograph had a wonderful story behind it and served as a sort of time-capsule of Canadian history, and led to discussion about other topics that Wallace and Douglas helped expound on, including art, artists, West coast art, and in particular, West Vancouver—a place all three artists call or (have called, in the case of Wallace) “home”.
Over the course of the evening, it became clear that all three artists are close friends, each serving as a mentor to one another is various ways. Both Coupland and Wallace not only spoke of how much they revere Smith’s work but also how much they look up to him as a human being because he is so kind. Smith and Coupland talked about Wallace’s work ethic and talent (Wallace was in fact Coupland’s instructor while he was studying at Emily Carr) and both Smith and Wallace praised Coupland for his work with various mediums including print and for his innovative approach to art—mention Coupland’s piece that was hanging in the tent based on QR codes.
Though these three artists are from different eras and often work different mediums, there were moments where the boundaries of generation and art forms collapsed. At one point, Smith spoke of how his painting really changed with the advent of digital cameras—which he uses often to take pictures and paints from by looking at them.
The Showcase Exhibition in the festival tent was amazing, featuring the works of the three artists speaking as well artists such as Pierre Coupey and Attila Richard Lukacs.
Visit the West Vancouver Museum to see the works of Gordon and his late-wife Marion. The exhibition runs until August 27, 2011. Follow the museum on Facebook or read their blog for more information.
Read all posts contributed by Michelle for Miss604.com and follow her on Twitter @miju.
Robson Square is home to salsa dancing every Sunday this month (and last) from 3:00pm to 7:00pm. Organized by Stephen and Jennifer Dancey of Salsa Vancouver, these lessons – followed by dance shows – are totally free.
John walked by yesterday on his way home from Empire Field and snapped some photos. He said there were a lot of people being asked to dance to which they replied, “I don’t know how.” They got up and danced anyway, moving with the rhythm, the crowd, and although some toes may have been squished, it looked like everyone was having a great time.
There are only three Sundays left in the series so be sure to stop by if you want to learn to salsa or show off your skills. August 14th will be led by Ronald Martinez of Bachata Vancouver, August 21st will be with Nina Perez of Baila Vancouver, and the final Sunday, August 28th will be led by Sebastian Molnar from Salsa Kapow.
They may be late but they’re just as sweet. BC fresh blueberries are now in season, after a soggy start to summer, and are ready for picking this month. After publishing my “Where to Pick Strawberries” post I received some great feedback and decided to include more Richmond and Delta farms for the blueberry guide (though there are still some great options in Langley and the Fraser Valley).
Where to Pick Blueberries
No. 5 Blueberry Farm
Location: 7040 No.5 Road, Richmond
Notes: 9am to 9pm, no pesticides/sprays. Cash only, bring your own container for u-pick.
Birak Berry Farm
Location: 9111 No. 6 Road, Richmond
Notes: 8am to 9pm. Available in ready-picked packs from the stand or for u-pick.
DFG Blueberries
Location: 11071 Blundell Road, Richmond
Notes: Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 6pm. Uses natural growing practices. Cash only.
Bissett Farms (at Westham Island Estate Winery)
Location: 2170 Westham Island Road, Delta
Notes: Look for the big blue barn. U-pick and some ready-picked berries. Bring your own container. Cash, debit, credit cards.
Emma Lea Farms
Location: 2727 Westham Island Road, Delta
Notes: Bring your own container or purchase ready-picked packs. Call ahead for the latest picking updates (604) 946-8216. Find them on Facebook.
Blueberries are known as a “superfruit” as each one packs a punch. In fact you can eat 1/2 cup of blueberries to fulfil the Canadian Food Guide recommended fruit serving each day. They’re also a great source of antioxidants.
Find more information about blueberries, where they grow, where to get them, and delicious recipes from the BC Blueberry Council. A great resource for growing practices and organic certifications can be found on the Pick Your Own site.
Araxi Restaurant, a star of Whistler’s restaurant scene, is hosting the Araxi Longtable series at North Arm Farm in Pemberton August 27 and September 11, 2011.
A “longtable” meal is exactly what it sounds like – a meal served to a large group at a long table – but this this series will also see that table sitting in the middle of a field at North Arm Farm (driving home the point of “farm to table” cooking).
The afternoon will start with a tour of the family-run North Arm Farm with proprietor Jordan Sturdy. Then, Chef James Walt (of Araxi) will use dozens of ingredients sourced from the farm and the Pemberton Valley in order to prepare a 4-course menu. Beef from the pastures of Pemberton Meadows, daily-catches from the coastal fishery, BC’s best wines, and more.
John and I enjoy Araxi so much that I created a tag for it on my site (where you can see all of my posts about Araxi at once). Chef James Walt’s creations are always fresh, locally-sourced, and bursting with flavour. We attended the Araxi Longtable on July 30th and once again had an amazing experience.
Over 90 people were at our table, many couples from Whistler and Pemberton and a few visitors hailing from California and even Ohio. Everything is served family-style so you get to know your neighbours and wines are constantly being refilled and refreshed.
North Arm Zucchini Flowers
Stuffed with Okanagan goat cheese, with heirloom tomatoes, Root Down organic greens, red pepper vinaigrette.
Wine pairing: Mission Hill Perpetua, 2008
Cherry Wood Hot Smoked Barclay Sound Sockeye Salmon
With roasted North Arm beets, English pea and green tomato salsa.
Wine pairing: Mission Hill Quatrain, 2007
Pemberton Meadows Natural Beef
Crispy beef cheek fritter, pepper and rosemary roasted sirloin with North Arm rainbow chard and baby carrots.
Wine pairing: Mission Hill Oculus, 2004
North Arm Farm Strawberries & Okanagan Cherries
Strawberry ice cream dipped in dark chocolate and Agassiz hazelnut financier with Okanagan apricots.
Wine pairing: Mission Hill Late Harvest Riesling, 2005
The wine pairings were spot-on but we enjoyed the Quatrain the best (very smooth). The zucchini flowers are something I could eat every day (crunchy and fresh yet creamy on the inside), the salmon was deliciously smoked, and I have to say the beef cheek fritter was a real surprise. Crunchy on the outside and the slow-cooked pieces of shredded meat on the inside were tender and moist. Chef Walt knows how to combine textures and flavours into the most interesting and unique packages on your plate.
This spectacular meal is enjoyed outdoors and tickets are $160 all-inclusive (4-course menu, wine, tax, gratuity). Return executive transportation from Whistler Village is available for $35 per person, including tax.
If you would like to attend and to experience stunning scenery and farm-fresh ingredients, here’s how you can enter to win two tickets from me (valued at $320) for the either August 27th or September 11th (winner’s choice). Each evening will have a different featured winery for pairings.
Leave a comment on this post or name your favourite local ingredient (for cooking or baking) (1 entry)
Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 9:00am Wednesady, August 17, 2011. Must be 19 years of age or older to enter and win. Please enjoy responsibly and plan a safe ride home. Return executive transportation from Whistler Village is available for $35 per person, including tax.
All photos in this post were taken for Miss604.com by John Bollwitt. You can view more photos from our evening at North Arm Farm in his Flickr set.
Update The winner is Helen!
Disclosure: As with all of my contests and posts, I was not paid to write this or offer this giveaway. However, our experience was compliments of Araxi.
